Do I need to upgrade my Graphics Card?

mschudeJan 1, 2009, 2:51 PM

I'm building a new i7 desktop that will be used mostly for photoshop, multitasking and work purposes. I would like to use the computer for gaming though. My plan was to use my old card that is a PSI Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT. I would like to play the most current games and have a nice experience. I don't think I can stomach spending 300+ dollars on a video card. Can someone please tell me if my current card is a decent card or if you would recommend upgrading it? Please tell me what card you would recommend for my build. Here is a quick overview of my system. I have already ordered the parts and they are being shipped now. I know the case is over the top for my purposes but I wanted the option to expand my system if desired, plus it got great reviews.

You spent extra money on the case, memory and hard drive but want to cheap out on the video card? OK if 300 is to much, how much do you want to spend? You can get ATI's 4850 for 150, a 4870 for 200 the Nvidia 9800s for 150-200 or a GTX 260 for 200-250.

You definitely need to upgrade the graphics to get any kind of gaming experience out of that system, are we talking latest titles here or what ? Also what type/ size/res of display are we powering here. What does occur to me is you are saying you cant stomach paying 300 for a decent card. Well it looks like you spent plenty already so what needs answering is do you have the money or just dont want to spend it. Im not trying to be funny here and can get that the i7 is best for other purposes but cheaping out on the graphics card would be a waste of the system as far as gaming goes. I have no worries recommending a decent budget card based on your screen size/ resolution, just seems a shame to let all that power go to waste for the sake of say 100 bucks extra. Mactronix

I can spend $300 on a card if needed but will I really see and notice a huge difference from what I already have? I don't know if this makes any difference but I have dual 22" monitors. Is the difference night and day with graphics? For example, there is a noticable difference in graphics between the Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360. Is that the type of difference I will see by upgrading my current card? Thanks.

I can spend $300 on a card if needed but will I really see and notice a huge difference from what I already have? I don't know if this makes any difference but I have dual 22" monitors. Is the difference night and day with graphics? For example, there is a noticable difference in graphics between the Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360. Is that the type of difference I will see by upgrading my current card? Thanks.

Depends on what games you play, some you will see a marginal improvement some you will see a huge improvement. Overall, Yes, you will see an improvement. If you don't want to spend to much go with a single card for right now. With the x58 board you have you can go crossfire or SLI later on if you feel like you don't have enough juice.

Yea see thats a really nice set up and pretty much regardless of what games you play the kind of cards that would make the most of that set up are gong to be as you say night and day compared to a 8600 card. Not the same kind of night and day as the Wii and XBox but thats what we Graphics tec heads call an Apples to Oranges comparison. What you will find is that there are games that the 8600 just plain wont run much above a slide show and with very limited detail/ quality. If you spend out on a decent high-ish end Card then you would get a very decent experiance and be able to turn on the whistles and bells so to speak, Anti Aliasing and AF make a huge differance to the Quality of the on screen image and the 8600 just dosent have the power to deliver. Personally if i had a system like yours i would first need to consider how i was to run it. Both screens at all times ? Or two for the work stuff and run a single for gaming ( Thats what i would do),. secondly, serious games. Far Cry 2/ Crysis or simple games that need less Graphics power ? If your looking to run both monitors at full res and want a decent gaming experiance with the latest titles then you have to be looking at the top of the tree, IE Nvidia 2800GTX or HD 4870 X 2. As i said my choice would be to run a single monitor for games and taking into account that you can go either SLI or Crossfire i would get either a HD 4780 (My personal choice) or a GTX 260 or 280 and then if i felt the need i would get a second at a later date. Mactronix